Clam Chowder

So there was this one time (or maybe more than one time) in my childhood.  Mom made clam chowder.  I very kindly said "thank you for this delightful meal, Mother.  But I'm just not hungry tonight." (yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I said.) Anyway, Dad said nice try to that one and then invited his friend Stubborn to the table.  He told me I wasn't leaving the table until that bowl of soup was gone.  In my head: "well then you're going to be waiting a while cause that ain't happening."
Aaaand we sat at that table for hours. And in the end Dad and Stubborn won that night.  And maybe that's why clam chowder is one of Dad's favorite meals.

The Recipe (serves 8)

• 1 c. finely diced white onion
• 1 c. finely diced celery
• 2 c. diced potato- cooked and cooled (don't salt them)
• 2 cans minced clams
• 3/4 c. butter
• 3/4 c. flour
• 1 qt. half and half
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 T red wine vinegar (or any vinegar)
• pepper to taste

1. Cook potatoes and drain.  Allow to cool.
2. Drain liquid from clams and reserve.
3. Place celery and onions in saucepan. Add liquid from clams.  Add enough water to cover vegetables.  Simmer until tender.
4. In heavy saucepan, melt butter, add flour blending well. 
5. Stir in cream, blending with wire whisk.  Add vegetables- don't drain.
6. Stir in clams, potatoes, salt and pepper.  Heat thoroughly.
7. Add vinegar

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Another one of Dad's favorites! We made these for Father's Day this year.  And for his birthday. And Father's Day last year........and anytime Dad needs a pick-me-up.  These will work.

The Recipe (from Hershey's):

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES 
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar

• Directions

  1.Heat oven to 375.  Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well-blended.
  3. Add 1/3 c. sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
  4. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
  7. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.
  
  Makes about 4 dozen

Chinese Mother's Day

I have to say, I think my mom is pretty lucky when it comes to Mother's Day.  A few years ago Dad made a new tradition- every first day of the month is Mother's Day.  We don't have to get a gift every month but we try to make sure we at least say thank you and I love you and be a little extra nice on that day.  So when the real Mother's Day rolls around we have to outdo all the previous mini Mothers Days.  This year Dad did Chinese.  He went to Taiwan on his mission (working on putting a picture of that up) so I guess if we were to say he has a specialty, Chinese food would be it.  Another thing to add.  When Dad puts his mind to doing something, he doesn't just do the bare minimum.  Ever.  This meal was no exception. 

The menu:

Entrees:
-Pork noodles
-Sweet & Sour Chicken
-Beef & Broccoli
-White Rice

Dim Sum:

What's dim sum you ask?  It's Mandarin for the "everything else on the table."  I think it's just the greatest word for it!

-Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

-Pot Stickers

-Steamed Dumplings

-Shrimp Dumpligs

-Lychees

Pretty decent meal huh?  I made the (totally Americanized) Sweet & Sour Chicken so I thought I'd post that recipe up here.  

Sweet & Sour Chicken

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 T vegetable oil
• celery
• red bell pepper
• pineapple chunks
• Kikoman's Sweet & Sour Sauce (so tasty- and even one of the cheaper brands!)

1. Thaw chicken breasts, cube, and using a large frying pan or wok, saute in the oil until thoroughly cooked. Drain liquid off.
2. Chop celery and red pepper, and add to chicken in pan. 
3. Pour enough sauce in to coat everything.
4. Add pineapple chunks.

See?  Not a lot of effort, still an awesome meal.

Dad's Favorite

 How to make Dad happy in just  

FIVE EASY STEPS

 We had the family over tonight for our first bi-monthly Family Home Evening tonight.  It was a good first run........and we're looking forward to many more in the future.  Dad gave us a nice lesson on the our power to choose faith and the gap of expectations.  I claimed the treat before anyone knew it was even an option. Of course.  I'd so much rather make the dessert than set up a lesson.  Anyway, this is one of Dad's favorites.  My mom has made this many-a-time so I had her send me the recipe. 

Man, I need to settle down when I finish making these recipes!  I'm always so anxious to eat that I forget to take a nice picture.  So here's this, looking all messy and not nearly as appetizing as it really is.  I promise.  I guess that just goes to show we can clean a pan, no problem.

And here's Dad's other favorite, eating his favorite.......

• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 c. (one cube) butter
• 1/2 c. chopped nuts
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• Cool Whip
• 2 small pkg. butterscotch pudding
• 3 c. milk

1. Mix flour, butter, and nuts 
2. Press into a 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.  (Don't burn it!!) Let cool.
3. Whip cream cheese, pwd sugar, and at least 1 c. cool whip together and spread on top of crust.
4. Blend 2 packs of pudding and milk and spread over cream mixture.
5. Top with cool whip.

 Another spotlight:  The NUT CRUSHER!

A few months ago I was at my Grandma's and got to use her awesome nut crusher...grinder?....grater?....I like crusher.  Well she noticed how much I liked it and the next time I went up there she gave me my very own crusher.  Every time I use a recipe that calls for chopped nuts I giggle a little because I get to use the nut crusher.  Thanks, Grandma!  I still love it!

Meatloaf

Well, Dad likes it.

That's what Mom always told us when we'd complain about eating meatloaf for dinner.  I think we can all agree it's more of the reputation of meatloaf than the actual taste of it that we complained about.  So I made meatloaf and cornbread for dinner on Sunday.  It went well until I realized I don't own a loaf pan.  What's meatloaf without the loaf?  Well we cooked them in pyrex bowls and had personal pan-style meatloaf.  The mini-loaf. 

 

The recipe:

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 egg
• 1 can tomato sauce
• onion
• salt & pepper
• handful of crushed saltines

1.  Mix all ingredients together
2. Smash into a loaf pan
3. Bake at 350 for at least one hour
4. Here is the gross part ***do not let your children or husband see you do this or you'll be dining alone!** When you get it out of the oven, you have to use a paper towel to soak up the grease. I like to think of it as healthifying the meatloaf- hey, I'm just getting rid of the grease here.  It's a healthy effort.  
5. You can either squirt ketchup on top or just dip it, but you must use ketchup.  

And if you try a bite and don't like it, give it to Dad- he likes it.  

Really though, you'll like it.  Especially if you serve it with corn bread and honey butter!